THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 563 



I860.] 



that Lave been mentioned, between the triumphs 

 of Science and the teachings of Scripture: nay, 

 more, that they are so thoroughly intertwined 

 and blended in their relations to the human 

 mind, as to prove their common origin in the 

 Source of all wisdom, it will be our first endea- 

 vor to show. Perfectly clear is it to our view, 

 that discoveries in the wondrous plan of nature, 

 made by rightly-directed inquiry, have aided 

 the human faculties to a better understanding 

 of the documents of inspiration, and a firmer 

 grasp of the precious verities they disclose. 

 Nor is it less evident to us, that influences pro- 

 ceeding from Revelation have opened the way 

 to those right methods of investigation which 

 constitute the basis, and have resulted in the 

 miracles of modern Science. 



'•Indeed, it must, we think, be to all obvious, 

 on reflection, that, addressed as are Natural and 

 Revealed truth, to the same creatures, and to 

 faculties in them altogether inseparable, recip- 

 rocal relations of action and reaction cannot 

 but exist in the mental processes by which they 

 are respectively realized. Hence may it be 

 conceived how Revelation, though embracing 

 in its plan no direct instruction for mankind, in 

 regard to things naturally cognizable, has, nev- 

 ertheless, through its influence upon the cogni- 

 tive faculties, incalculably promoted that amaz- 

 ing scientific progress which we witness in 

 Christendom, and nowhere else. And hence 

 may be understood the service which scientific 

 discovery is rendering the interpretation and the 

 evidences of the sacred records. 



"These views we now proceed to expand 

 and illustrate. We shall endeavor to establish 

 the position that mankind are largely indebted 

 10 influences derived from the Scriptures for 

 that intellectual revolution in modern Christen- 

 dom which has emancipated the mind, as it was 

 never liberated before, and which has placed 

 the keys of nature even in the hands of chil- 

 dren. And then it will be our aim to point out, 

 as only second to this, a debt on the other side, 

 to the all-wise Author of nature, for the scien- 

 tific methods to which he has adapted the fa- 

 culties of creatures made in his own image. 

 To exhibit the reciprocal influence which 

 Science exerts in correcting inadequate appre- 

 hensions of things revealed • and in placing 

 Divine-truth in a fortress so strong that enemies, 

 however inveterate, must forever assail it in 

 vain, and so lofty that the celestial light thence 

 emanating shall at length reach every eye that 

 will behold. 



"We maintain, then, in the first place, that, 

 for that simple and humble process of inquiry 

 into facts, and that systematic ascertainment 

 and application of natural laws, which consti- 

 tute what we mean by Science in its every de- 

 partment, man owes, incalculably more than the 

 mere scientific reason supposes, to influences 

 connected with Christianity. And in support 

 of the position, we appeal to the nature of 

 things, and to the evidence of history." 



The writer, then, in the first chapter — 

 " Science and Revelation " — gives a hur- 

 ried synopsis of the whole subject of his 

 disquisitions, and shows clearly that the 

 race who has done most for the moral and 

 physical advancement of man, is the same 

 who has ever held fast to the Bible as the 

 great teacher of the world's past history, as 

 well as the true exponent of man's future 

 destiny, and then concludes the subject of 

 the entire harmony of Science and Revela- 

 tior in the beautiful language of Dr. Mc- 

 Cosh, that — 



"It is. assuredly, no useless or profane work 

 that is engaged in by those who would, with 

 proper humility, endeavor to remove jealousies 

 between parties whom God had joined together, 

 and whom no man is at liberty to put asunder. 

 . . . We are not lowering the dignity of science 

 when we command it to do, what all the objects 

 it looks at. and admires do, when we command 

 it to worship God. Nor are we detracting from 

 the honor which is due to religion when we 

 'press it to take science into its service. . . 

 Let not science and religion be reckoned as op- 

 posing citadels, frowning defiance upon each 

 other, and their troops brandishing their armor 

 in hostile attitude. Each has its own founda- 

 tion. These, let them unite, and the basis will 

 be broader, and they will be two compartments 

 of one grand fabric reared to the glory of God. 

 Let the one be the outer and the other the inner 

 court. In the one let all look, and admire, and 

 adore; and in the other, let those who have 

 faith kneel, and pray, and praise. Let the one 

 be the sanctuary where human learning may 

 present its richest incense as an offering to God ; 

 and the other, the holiest of all, separated from 

 it by a vail now rent in twain, and in which, 

 on a blood-sprinkled mercy-seat, we pour out 

 the love of a reconciled heart, and hear the ora- 

 cles of the living God." 



"The Human Family," the second sub- 

 ject of discussion, (for we cannot trespass 



